Friday, October 03, 2008

I personally never liked the Sports Reporters, and I'd regularly get mad at the TV on Sunday mornings when it came on. It wasn't the format, but I just couldn't stand Mike Lupica. Even at the age of ten I would watch the intro with Dick Schapp and as soon as Lupica spoke, I would change the channel to cartoons or something. Obviously I'm in the minority though because the show's popularity has kept it on the air, as of this Sunday, for twenty years. The show has a litany of popular guests including Howard Cosell, David Halberstam, Bob Costas, Al Michaels, Jim Nantz and Lesley Visser, and was really the first Sports panel show of its kind.

Here's a clip of the first show that ESPN released with news of the anniversary, and take notice of a young Gary Thorne (the first host), Jackie MacMullen and Ralph Wiley. It's a little bit choppy but still viewable (it also helps to let it load all the way before first)....

While the show wasn't always my favorite, it certainly has had it's moments. One I remember vividly was the airing following 9/11, which actually turned out to be Dick Schapp's last show. All four panelists (Lupica, Schapp, William C. Rhoden and Bob Ryan) expressed their feelings gracefully, and Schapp's account of his frustration, and the pain of not being able to do anything, still sticks in my mind.

Holy shit really? Wow, I had no idea it has been on that long. I guess I was only two years old when it started so it makes sense that it hasn't felt that long. It used to be great but it has fallen off in this era if the internets.

wow i remember sportswriters on tv on wgn. rip ro ralph wiley for sure. sports reporters is definitely not the same without a dick schaap. or a ralph wiley. or fat ass bill conlin. i cant even watch the show now.

There was a show comparable to this on KSL-Channel 5 in Salt Lake City hosted by Craig Bolerjack (who has you know AA, is a prestigious CBS Sports announcer as well) where Boler had numerous sports columnists and drive-time talk show hosts on the show. I always liked Ralph Wiley and I was fresh off my LDS mission to Tucson Ariz. and El Paso, Texas when Wiley died. It was sad to see Rome on JRIB cry and remains the only time I've ever seen Van Smack show such emotion. The Sports Reporters is a good show, but at times, I think John Saunders is too arrogant. Whitlock (although I disagree with him about college football, we despearately need a playoff....) is the best one because of his candor.

Never could stand Lupica either. He always reminded me of the slightly-built boy who stands to the side on the playground and never gets in on the action, instead spending his time finding something to run tell the teacher about. Then he sticks out his tongue at you while you're receiving your punishment, but runs away after school in fear. Yep, that's him.